Laundry apparatus



March 29, 1938,

F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1935 s sheets-sheet 1 lNVENTOR March 29, 1938. F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS s Sheets-Shei 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1933 INVENTOR March 29 1938. F. B ALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Shed (5 Filed Nov. 6, 1933 INVEN-TOR March 29, 1938.

F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1955 s Sheet-Shmra.

March 29, 1.938. F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov, 6, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR March 29,1938. F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1935 8 Shets-Sheet 7 lNVENTOR March 29, 1938. F. BALZER LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet '8 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,112,225 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Fritz Balzer, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Mach'ne and Metals, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaw Ware Application November 6,

4 lDlaims.

The invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly to a novel and useful system for washing, drying and handling clothes in a. laundry andto various novel and useful mechr anisms used in various phasesof said system.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by pracfl tice with the invention, the same being realized- 10 and attained by means of the instrumentalities' and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and im- 15 provements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

of the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a front longitudinal elevation of a washing machine embodying certain features of the invention;

v Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal section on line l--4 of Fig. 3, broken away to show about onehalf the machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal section on line 1--'I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detailed elevation of one of the washing cylinder supporting arms;

4 Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the washing machine showing the washing cylinder in discharging position;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a portable container or hopper for clothes;

45 Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic elevation of a washing and drying system embodying the invention;

Fig. 12 is an elevation, in detail, of a flexible, foraminous' receptacle for clothing, shown in its discharging position;

to Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the receptacle in its closed positions; and

Fig. 14 is 'a detail elevation of the receptacle engaging 'and lifting means.

The invention is directed to providing a novel and useful laundry system and apparatus there- 1933, Serial No. 696,831 (or. 68--18) for, wherein the clothes are handled in an exceedingly efiicient, rapid and inexpensive manner from thewashing operation on through the drying and sorting operations. -An important object of the invention is to provide ,a laundry system which 5 eliminates many of the unnecessary time and labor-consuming steps involved in laundry systems now in use. The invention also provides ,novel, simplified, relatively inexpensive and highly"efficient mechanisms and devices for carrying out the various steps or phases of the laundry system.-

More in detail, the invention provides, as parts system, a novel washing machine which facili- 5 tates loading and unloading of the clothes and especially promotes emcient dumping of the washed clothes from the washing cylinder without a manual or mechanical lifting out of the garments from the cylinder. By virtue of the novel features of the washing machine construction, the washing cylinder may be moved easily and rapidly to a position from which the washed clothes may be discharged solely by gravity into a suitable receptacle for transfer to the dryer. The mechanical construction of the washing machine is such that the washing cylinder is movable in a straight line path from, the washing position to the unloading or discharging position, and is returnable over the same straight line path.

The novel laundry system of the invention also embodies a novel form of receptacle for receiving the clothes discharged from the washing machine and for transporting them to a centrifugal dryer. Saidreceptacle is preferably adapted to conform to the shape of the dryer basket and novel means are provided for preforming the receptacle into said shape prior to loading it with clothes from the washing machine, and for maintaining it in said preformed shape throughout its travel from the Washing machine to and into the dryer basket. The clothes. receptacle is preferably formed as a flexible, foraminous bag which is adapted to conform exactlyto the interior of the dryer basket when loaded with clothes. A portable container having an interior shape conforming to that of the dryer basket is provided for preforming the bag to said basket shape, for supporting it during the loading operation at the washing machine, and for transporting the loaded bag to the centrifugal dryer.

Suitable meansare provided for removing the loaded, preformed receptacle from the container and introducing said loaded receptacle into the bodied, two separabl are mounted together to f are sorted in the usual manner.

The laundry system and apparatus hereinbefore briefly described is highly eflicient and a unloading operations to be performed solely by gravity and with a minimum of labor and of mechanical parts and movements.

or more portable containers 20 for transportation to the centrifugal dryer 3!]. The mechanical construction of the discharging'mechanism will vided with suitable guide means for facilitating movement of the clothes from the washing cyl inder into the body of the container. As eme guide members on the frame 20 and ar rm a flared or funnel of the container 20 -shaped hopg a generally conoidal downward ta Thus when the and 23 are brough tainer. 20 as shown shaped or bell container for -mouthed guide at the top of the receiving and guiding the clothes 25, the slots of which ride 26 at either end of thereof. As shown members 22 and 23 may be along the side faces of the simple manipulation of the over a centrally dispo the container 20 near in Fig. 10, the guide moved to a position container 20 by a slotted arms 25.

In accordance with the invention, a d

mouth 24 thereof.

The container 20 he container is provided with 28 which acts to into a reentrant the receptacle or a central tapered force the bottom cone. Said conforma core or post ally as 50 is 's adapted to travel on an overhead monorail A suitable cable 53 are adapted to engage with suitable tom 6| of the cone and eyes 58 which are formed at two equally spaced points on the retaining ring ll of the bag 40.

The grappling device also comprises means for engaging the central upturned or re-entrant portion of the bag "I, thereby to formed shape of the bag when the container 20 and seated in the basket of the dryer 30. As embodied, the bag 40 is subdivided into a plurality of tapered quadrants or leaves 44 which, when brought together, give the bag a roughly conical or tapered shape as shown in Fig. 13. Suitable closure means for bringing together the four quadrants or leaves of the bag may comprise the hookless fasteners or zipper devices 45, as shown, although other suitable means may be used in lieu thereof. The shape of the several quadrants 44 is such that a complete closure is not made at the bottom of the bag, but a small annular opening 46' remains when the quadrants are drawn together. A plurality of coupling rings 4! are fixed to the lower ends of the several quadrants and, when the lower portion of the bag is pushed up to form the reentrant conical shape as hereinbefore described, said rings protrude upwardly through the opening 46 as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 13.

The embodied means for engaging said rings 6 to retain the bag inthe preformed shape comprises a centrally suspended grappling cone 59 which hangs from the ring 55 of the grappling device by a chain 60. The cone 59 is provided with a cylindrical mouth M which is adapted to fit over the annular end opening ib of the bag bottom. Hooks 62 are mounted around the botare adapted to engage the similarly spaced rings t'l on the bag bottom. It will be clear, therefore, that when the grappling hooks 56 and 62 of the grappling device 50 are connected to the eyes 58 and rings ti, respectively, of the bag, the bag may be lifted out 20 while preserving the conformation imparted thereto by the container. This operation is indicated on the left of Fig. 11.

As shown in Fig. 11, after the loaded bag or receptacle is lifted from the container by the grappling device 50 it is moved along the monorail to a position directly over the open centrifugal dryer 30. It is then lowered into the centrifugal basket, where it seats immediately by virtue of its preformed shape. The seating ring 4! engages a suitable retaining ledge (not shown) near the rim of the basket. The grappling device is then disconnected and the drying operation is carried out in the usual manner, the foraminous bag permitting centrifugal extraction of the water from the clothes.

After the drying operation is completed, the lid is raised and the grapplin device again connected with the tacle 40. The receptacle is then raised from the basket and transported along the above the sorting table 65. cone 59 is then disengaged from the rings 4'! and the loaded bag will collapse into the form shown in full lines in Fig. 13. The zippers 45 will then be pulled open permitting the dry clothes to fall onto the sorting table. The bag may then be from the grappling hooks 56, and the bag is ready for placing again in a container 20 for reloading, while the grappling device may be returned to the dryer or to a container to take up its operations in the cycle. It will be understood, of course, that several dryers and several grappling devices may be provided and used simultaneously,

it is lifted out of maintain the pre- The central grappling and that the different grappling devices may be used to carry out the different operations of transporting the receptacle from the container to the dryer and of transporting the dried receptacle from the dryer to the sorting table.

Referring now to the construction of the present preferred embodiment of the washing machine per se, the perforate washing cylinder or drum ll (Fig. 2) is mounted within a cylindrical casing Ill, the casing being supported on a plurality of supporting castings 10. At either end of the cylindrical casing 10 there is provided a superstructure l2 for housing the overhead driving elements, and a lower extension I2 for housing part of the driving mechanism which projects below and beyond the drum casing proper. Said end casings l2 and H are preferably integral parts of the casing support castings 10 at each end of the machine.

The invention provides separate actuating and controlling means for imparting rotary movement to the washing drum ii; for actuating'the casing closure to permit access to the drum and to re-enclose it; and for effecting the discharging and return movements of the drum from and to the casing. These three sets of actuating and controlling means will now be described in the order set forth.

Referring first to rotary washing movement to or cylinder Ill, said drum is provided at either end with a stud shaft 15 suitably fixed to the end plate i l of thedrum. The shaft is rotatably journaled in a block H, which is slida'bly supported in the diagonally disposed frame castings l8 and it. The block H is a relatively long and narrow casting (Fig. 8) having a centrally disposed opening 80 for rotatably supporting the shaft 115 and is provided with relatively thin side flanges or tongues 8! which fit slidably within conforming grooves 82 in the upper face of casting l8 and the lower face of casting 79 respectively. Said frame castings l8 and B9 are bolted to the side walls 83 of the end casing support 10 and thereby afford fixed supports for the drum. ii in its rotary and translation movements. The embodied means for imparting rotation to the shafts 15 comprises a relatively large gear wheel 85 the hub 8'5 of which is keyed to the outer end of the'shaft 15, a suitable guard plate 81 being fixed to the end of the shaft and overlying the end of the hu Rotary motion is imparted to the gear wheel 85 from a drive motor 90 as follows:

The motor 99 is mounted above and to the rear of the washing drum and preferably between the ends thereof, being supported by a suitable bracket casting 9! which is attached to the rear portion of the main casing support 10. The motor shaft 92 is provided with a sprocket or pulley 93 which engages a chain or belt of the belt engaging the driving surface of a relatively large drive pulley 9'5. The drive pulley 95 is drivingly connected to a main drive-shaft 98 which extends the length of journaled at either end 99 in the outer frame of the casing l2. A suitable intermediate supporting bracket I is provided centrally of the machine for supporting the rotating shaft 98, said bracket being fixed to the motor bracket 9i.

Driving force from the shaft gear wheels 85 through pinions I at either end of the shaft which intermesh with idler spur gears I06. The spur gears Hi6 are fixed to either end of the upper drive-shaft I01. Said shaft extends the means for imparting the the washing drum the machine, being E 98 is imparted to complete driving connections from the motor 90 to one of the gear wheels 85 are shown in Fig. 3, which also discloses the structure of the upper end casings I2 which house the driving gears.

' Referring now to the embodied means for actuating and controlling the closure for the casing to cylinder I 0 which is a fixed part of the casing, the other half of the cylindrical casing comprising two slidable segments I 20 and I2I. The segment 1 I20 is of slightly greater diameter than that of the fixed hemicylinder I0 and is adapted to slide thereover in the arcuate guideways I22 at either end of the cylindrical casing III. The door seg-' ment I2I is of slightly intermediate segment I 20 and'is slidably rotatable in the outer arcuate guideways I23 which circumscribe the inner guideways I22.

In Fig. 2, the closure segments I20 and IE6 are shown in their closed positions, the two segments being extended to complete the cylindrical closure about the drum II. In that position, the loweredge of door segment I2I is seated in a cushioned, water-tight groove I25, suitably fixed to the terminal edge of hemicylinder I0, thereby serving as a stop for the door closure. The abutting edges of segments I2I and I20 are operatively connected by the interlocking flanges I26 and I29 whereby the lower segment will draw after it the upper segment to complete the closing action.

In the opening movement of the door segment,

it will be clear that the outer segment I2I is adapted to slide over the outer surface of segment I20 during the first half of the opening movement. When the outer door I2I has been moved to entirely overlie segment I20, the flange I29 will engage the upturned fiange I30 on the rear edge of segment I20 and thereafter the two segments will travel together in their respective guide grooves to the limit of their opening movement. The edge I3I of the leg casting 10 provides a suitable stop for the leading edge I30 of the inner segment I20 at the completion of the opening movement.

The embodied means for efiecting the opening and closing movements of the door segments comprises, primarily, the lifting handles I34 on the outer periphery of the door segment I2 I By these handles, the door I 2| may be raised manually until it completely overlaps segment I20, thereby exposing the drum I I for inspection and the loading of clothes. For completion of the opening action, which is usually effected to permit egress of the drum to the discharging position, a mechanical drive is imparted to the door segment I2I so as to move it and segment I20 together to the full open position. The embodied means for effecting said mechanical drive comprises arcuate racks I36 on the periphery of segment I2I at either end thereof. Suitable driving means for engaging said racks and imparting rotary movement thereto comprises pinions I38 at either end of shaft I40, said shaft being driven from a cenon the motor bracket greater diameter than the for the end of the link arm I50.

trally disposed sprocket wheel I4 I through a chain drive I42 from a motor I43. The motor is mounted 9| substantially centrally provided with a suitable gear reducer I for transmitting the drive to the chain I 42.

to I2I has been moved by hand to segment I20. Thereupon the pinions engage the bringing the door segment I 2I whence it may be completely closed by manual actuation.

It will be noted that the door segment I2I is provided with the usual sub-doors I46 for permitting inspection during the washing operation, introduction of soap, and the like.

Referring now to the present preferred means for moving the washing drum or cylinder II from the washing position to the'discharge position and vice versa (Fig. 9), the invention emdevices for eifecting said movements as a straight line lift and return of the entire drum. As hereinbefore described, the drum shafts I5 are rotatably supported in slidable blocks I1, the edges M of which are adapted to slide in the groove 82 of the inclined frame members 78 and 19. Thus by imparting suitabl'e translational movement to the blocks H, the entire cylinder assembly may be caused to travel upwardly and outwardly along the guideways I8 and I9 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 9.

For effecting said translational movement, either end of the shaft I5 is engaged, through the. hub 86 of gear wheel 85, by journals formed at the ends of link arms I50. The other end I5I of said link arm is drivingly connected to a rotating crank I 52 by a suitable stud bolt I53. Rotary motion is imparted to the crank I52 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 9 to effect the desired translatory reciprocating movement The driving means for efiecting said rotary motion comprises a motor I55 seated on the motor bracket SI and meshes with a beveled pinion I59, keyed to a horizontal shaft I60. Said shaft I60 is suitably journaled in the casing casting and has spur gears I keyed to its outer ends. Said spur gears mesh with the periphery of gear wheels I 66 mounted on stud shafts I67, which are threaded into suitable bosses in the casing casting I2. The driven end of crank I52 is drivingly connected to the gear wheel I66 by bolts I68. It will be noted that slide I7 is provided with a yoke I69 at its lower end to straddle the shaft I51. I

In the operation of the mechanism for moving washing drum II to the discharging position shown in Fig. 9, the rotary drive of the drum is first stopped and then the cover segments I 20 and I 2i are moved to-the full open position as hereinbefore described. The drive motor I55 is then started and the actuation of link I5I will slide the block TI and the shaft I5 upwardly and outwardly to the full extension of the crank I52 and link I5I. In that position the drum II will be substantially fully ejected from the interior of the cylindrical casing I 0, as shown in Fig. 9. The motor I 55 will then be stopped and be maintained in the extended the drum. As embodied, the gears I06 and their driving connections are adapted to remain in mesh with the drum gear wheels 85 continuously. As shown, arms I85 are pivotally mounted at one end upon stub shafts 15 and at the other upon shaft I01 adjacent the gear wheels 85 and gears I06 respectively so that, in conjunction with links I09, the correct mesh between the said gears is maintained in fixed relation regardless of the rectilinear movement of gear wheel II. The gear I06 is mounted for a limited rocke ing movement, together with shaft I01, about shaft 98 as an axis, thereby to allow the drive gear I to accommodate itself to the rectilinear motion of the drum and gear wheel 85 without disengaging the meshing of the gear teeth. Accordingly, as hereinbefore described, the pivotal arms I09 permit swinging movement of the shaft I01 about the lower shaft 98, the arcuate slots I08 permitting said rocking movement of the shaft within the end casings I2. It will likewise be clear that the casings I2 are shaped to accommodate the limited angular movement of the gears I06 during this displacing action of the drum. Suitable guards I80 are mounted about the outer portion of the gear wheels 85 and are adapted to move outwardly with the drum.

It will be clear, therefore, that when the drum is moved outwardly from its driving position to its discharging position, arms I85 force the gears I06 and shaft I01 upwardly and backwardly as the drum moves outwardly and that as said outward movement is continued, the gear I06 lowers again after the point of maximum displacement has been passed. Thus, when the drum is in the discharging position shown in Fig. 9, it may be rotated to any desired angular position by inch-.

ing the motor 90, which remains in driving engagement with the gear wheel 85 at all times.

Referring now in greater detail to the clothesdischarging means on the washing drum II, the doors 2I2 and 2I3 are formed as pivotally mounted segments of the perforated periphery of the drum II. The doors are mounted on suitable hinges I10 (Figs. 2 and 9). Suitable latchin means "I are provided for locking the doors in closed position against the end walls 1| of the drum. In a preferred form, the drum is subdivided longitudinally into two or more compartments by intermediate partition walls I12 and with such construction suitable spring latches I18 may be provided for fixing the inner edges of the doors to the partition.

The interior of the drum may be provided with the usual projecting members I15 and I16 for effecting a tumbling action on the clothes during the washing operation. For facilitating the discharge of clothes through the doors 2I2 and 2I2, the relatively large projecting members I11 and I18 are formed at either side of the doors and provided with relatively long inclined surfaces which tend to cause the clothes to slide downwardly and inwardly towards the door opening.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:-

1. A washing machine including in combination a stationary casing, a washing cylinder r0- tatably mounted within the casing, means for moving the cylinder upwardly and laterally to an ing means for causing the cylinder to travel 1n a straight line throughout its movement between said positions, said cylinder moving means comprising a power driven crank having a connecting rod pivotally attached to it and the cylinder whereby the crank will rotate unidirectionally to raise and lower the cylinder in said straight line, and driving means for rotating the cylinder'in any position of its travel comprising a gear about the cylinder anda driving gear meshing therewith and connected to a power source, said driving gear being movable toward and away from the path of movement of the cylinder while remaining in engagement with said power source, whereby the driving. gear may remain in mesh with the cylinder gear throughout its movement.

2. A washing machine including in combination a stationary casing, a washing cylinder rotatably mounted within the casing, means for guiding and moving the cylinder upwardly and laterally to an unloading position outside the casing including an arm connected to the cylinder, a rotary crank member for moving the arm, a gear on the cylinder shaft and a driving gear therefor constantly in mesh therewith, said driving gear being mounted on an axis movable toward and away from the path of movement of the cylinder.

3. A washing machine including in combination a stationary casing, a washing cylinder rotatably mounted within the casing, means for guiding and moving the cylinder upwardly and laterally to an unloading position outside thecasing including a cylinder supporting and guiding member, a, link connected with the cylinder for moving the cylinder under the control of said guiding member and a power driven rotary crank connected to the link, whereby unidirectional rotation of the crank will raise and lower the cylinder along the path imposed by the guiding member and a gear on the cylinder shaft, a driving gear therefor constantly in mesh therewith, said driving gear being mounted on a movable arm to permit arcuate travel of the driving gear toward and away from the path of movement of the cylinder.

4. A washing machine including in combination a stationary casing, a washing cylinder rotatably mounted within the casing, driving means for rotating the cylinder for washing operation, means for moving the cylinder upwardly and laterally to an unloading position outside the casing, and guiding means for causing the cylinder to travel in a straight line throughout its movement between said positions, and means for driving the cylinder in the unloading position comprising a gear on the cylinder shaft and a driving gear meshing therewith and having bodily movement toward and away from the path of travel of the cylinder.

FRITZ BALZER. 

